Sleeping bag - Temp ratings

terencemc

Has anyone out there had much experience with sleeping bag ratings?
E.g. Comfortable zone: +5oC to -2oC
Extreme: -10oC

So does this mean that you will be fine at -10 and enjoy a decent sleep or it will be a rough night's sleep.

I know there is no definitive answer but would like to hear people's past experiences

Cheers

Nightwish

I've a 4 season sleeping bag, with the extreme temp -16C. The lowest temperature I've experienced in it was about -2 and I slept fine. I found that layering of clothes and consumption of hot food and drinks also helps.

Down South

I think its a case tht you will survive -10 but not comfortably. Extra clothes eg duvet jacket would make up some of the difference

terencemc

Cool, are any of your sleeping bags the compact variety? Care to recommend a brand? I only know vango.

Mitch Buchannon

terencemc wrote: »

Cool, are any of your sleeping bags the compact variety? Care to recommend a brand? I only know vango.

Vango are one of many many brands out there. It depends on how much you want to spend. it also depends on if you want down or synthetic.
There are many debates online as to which is better. It really depends on your budget and what your requirements are.

Down compresses smaller, is lighter and warmer than synthetic but has to be kept dry. Once a down bag gets wet your fooked ! Down looses all its insulating properties once wet and you may aswell have no sleeping bag with you then.
Synthetic is usually cheeper, slightly heavier , can be just as warm as down(may be a heavier bag than a down equivelent), and is not affected too much by being damp.
Some info aboy down vs synthetic http://http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-information-51.html

As for brands you could look at:

The North Face: http://http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/equipment-sleeping-bags.html

Mountain Equipment: http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/

Mountain Hardwear: http://www.mountainhardwear.com/en-EU/Category.aspx?top=1760&cat=1760&level=1

PHD: http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/index.php?cPath=26&osCsid=2ec83493736057fd313c2aacae11abd3

RAB: http://www.rab.uk.com/equipment/sleeping_bags/

All of the above companies would be on the higher end of the market with regards to quality though that usually comes with a high price tag. If you know what your looking for there are some bargains to be had online. Ebay and some various online outdoor stores.

SomeFool

Have a look here too. Snugpak do good synthetic bags in my opinion. Like Mitch Buchannon said it all depends on your budget and requirements.

terencemc

Excellent replies...cheers

Hopefully, i will never have to snuggle up to a guy again like during the wicklow way last march in a compact sleeping bag without a rating. :eek:

Down South

have a look at these guys for good value down bags:

www.alpkit.com

Mitch Buchannon

I have to agree with Down South on recommending alpkit gear.

They have a great stuff at great prices. The only thing is their down stuff sells out quickly and they dont get restocked for months. You will probably have to put your name on the waiting list for their sleeping bags. They also have really good value in down jackets but again there is a waiting list (very long one Im sure).

irishlostboy

Down South wrote: »

have a look at these guys for good value down bags:

www.alpkit.com

gotta agree. these guys do great kit for cheap. their sleeping bags are quite good. great when you factor in the cost. their bivi bags are very good for the cost too, and very compact. they do good sevice also.

for pure quality, my number 1 choice of what i have tried is mountain hardware. i have a marmot sawtooth. it is poor quality. was quite dissapointed, and considering the cost i cannot buy a new bag for a LONG time.

re temp ratings, i view the lowest "comfort" ratings as the survival rating. some people need more insulation than others.

liamo333

Have a look at this Terence http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/site/main_articles/maximising_your_bags_warmth/

Carawaystick

Usually the extreme rating means you wearing all your clothes - fleece/down jacket hat gloves etc.

I bivvied in the -11 in a -15 bag before, didn't sleep too well but that was partially due to altitude also. wasn't freezing, just felt draughty where there was any airpockets in the inside of the bag.

I've an Ajungilak (sp??) with a waterresist outside - No complaints after bivvying/ camping for a fortnight or month solid in the mountains over several years.

synthetic filling though. helped with it gettng wet a few times.

neilled

terencemc wrote: »

Has anyone out there had much experience with sleeping bag ratings?
E.g. Comfortable zone: +5oC to -2oC
Extreme: -10oC

So does this mean that you will be fine at -10 and enjoy a decent sleep or it will be a rough night's sleep.

I know there is no definitive answer but would like to hear people's past experiences

Cheers

Comfort = Person of average build wearing a single layer of clothing (thermal long sleeve base and long johns in said sleeping bag, in a tent fully occupied, at sea level with a ground mat underneeth them, getting a comfortable 8 hours sleep.

Extreme - Person gets by at extreme temperature by layering up with extra clothing and may wake up during night because of feeling cold.

It should be noted that there are a number of different ways of measuring comfort/extreme ratings.

mcguiver

I use mountain hardware -20 rated...... it's lovely!
Any Irish weather, and some extreems in Scotland. I use the synthetic one, as they retain warmth when wet, as opposed to the lighter down filled ones which become a big sponge. That and a goretex bivvy bag... tents are for wendies!!!

danger_mouse_tm

I deliver to Dunnes for fyffes. Due to the harsh road conditions we have been advised to stay out in the truck for loading the next day at the loading bay in Swords. Last night the inside temp of the truck dropped to -3C. I have an Aztec mummy bag which, up until last night i thought was top of the range. I was freezing. I wore thick work trousers and a lined thinsulate wooly hat, as well as a denim shirt and a hoody. I think the hardest part was breathing in the cold air early this morning. There is no night heater in the truck but I think if i could get the right bag I should be ok. I had a look in the argos catalogue this evening but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of ratings. Any advice on how to stay warm would be great!

terencemc

It seems like you can get some good one's for not so much in the states...if you know anyone over there to bring it back.

These could be on azazon UK. The first one has a rating of -1, the second one -6...not bad for a compact for €30

http://www.amazon.com/Suisse-Sport-Adventurer-Ultra-Compactable-Sleeping/dp/B001TR7QZA/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3TB069MQ0ZZUS&colid=3UP9GSLQHPVCU

http://www.amazon.com/Featherlite-20-Compact-Sleeping-Ledge/dp/B001TP6SRY/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2WV8QVBKV32NJ&colid=3UP9GSLQHPVCU

L31mr0d

In regards to temp ratings. Only buy a bag that has been EN tested. Temp ratings previously could be set by the company and while a lot of these manufacturers are trust worthy, ratings could vary wildly between brands depending on there testing procedures.

The EN standard normalizes the rating system.

I'm currently in Canada so I mainly use MEC for my camping gear. I've used 2 of their sleeping bags and found them to be of exceptional quality.

In regards to maximizing your bags rating, here are some links I found usefull:

http://www.chiff.com/a/camping-sleep-warm.htm
http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673221239&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302887296
http://psychovertical.com/maximisingwarmth

lg123

FYI the temp rating standard is EN 13537, makes some excellent night time reading.

i picked up a north face Hotlum 600 (-10'C) from the US for a fairly reasnoble price, i think the best value to be had is from the US if you can avoid the import duty. i am in australia and import duty only comes into place on purchases over $1000, sweet!!!

Donny5

lg123 wrote: »

FYI the temp rating standard is EN 13537, makes some excellent night time reading.

i picked up a north face Hotlum 600 (-10'C) from the US for a fairly reasnoble price, i think the best value to be had is from the US if you can avoid the import duty. i am in australia and import duty only comes into place on purchases over $1000, sweet!!!

Lucky bastard. We pay VAT on anything over €22 and customs duty above €150.

Carawaystick

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

Any advice on how to stay warm would be great!

A good feed makes a huge difference to keeping warm in the same conditions compared to not having eaten recently.

shake the bag to get as much air into the padding - this should keep the bag a (small) bit warmer, and leave the bag out of the stuff sack except when you need to pack it down small. I leave mine in the top of the hotpress.

A quick fix would be to get a fleece blanket/throw for inside the bag - probably get one in Dunnes for a fiver

SomeFool

Carawaystick wrote: »

A quick fix would be to get a fleece blanket/throw for inside the bag - probably get one in Dunnes for a fiver

I have an old Lowe fleece sleeping bag liner, really toasty but massively bulky. A silk liner is a better investment imo.

concussion

I picked up a silk liner on eBay recently for about €15 delivered - compresses down to about the size of a tennis ball and is very light. I've used it a few times and it seems to do he job quite well, as I didn't wake up all night, contrary to my usual routine . I can post the link if that's ok with the mods (they also sell a good range of tarps and hammocks)

Tabnabs

I have an old Ajungilak and can only recommend them. Has a water proof (splash proof probably) external surface and is snug to around zero. I see they produce a 5 seasons sleeping bag:

Comfort Temperature (Men): +10 to -25 degrees Celcius
Comfort Temperature (Women): +10 to -17 degrees Celcius
Extreme Temperature: -49 degrees Celsius

http://www.completeoutdoors.co.uk/Ajungilak-Denali-5-Season-Sleeping-Bag

I'd say you'd do alright with that.